((He's not quite down with you guys yet, although you can notice him if you want. I just wanted to make this "waking up" post, but you three can consider yourselves still Starolf-less for now. Oh, and one swear word. Hope none of you mind.))
Starolf awoke gradually as the throbs of ecstasy receded, slowly, from his body. He could not remember the past hour or so, but the fading flare of absolute blind sensation that was seared onto his brain seemed to suggest that whatever had happened, it was quite excellent. Starolf had the impression that this forgetfulness would continue for the next few hours; if this hit was anything like the one that had knocked him out only two days ago, he had some time left before the drug left his system and finally allowed him long-term memory again.
He realized he was lying on a cot when he sneezed; he was allergic to straw and that was what the mattress was stuffed with. "Blast," he muttered. His voice sounded muzzy and when he opened to eyes, even the dim light of the lantern sitting beside him was too much. He closed them tightly shut again. "Oh, Jeminy..." Another low moan. Everything he touched seemed to sparkle, if that made any sense, on his skin. A physical sparkle -- mesmerizing glitter that shivered up his limbs straight to his heart with unwavering accuracy. It was pleasant, but made for doing anything but lie still and enjoy it rather difficult.
Starolf then realized that he had not, in fact, seen this room before. The last thing he remembered was talking to a slender cat-woman -- Rys! -- on the bank of a pond. Right, the cat-woman. A smile quirked at the edge of his lips. She must have dragged him all the way to this inn and dumped him here to rot. A lot of strength, that, for a woman; then again, there was more to her than just woman, wasn't there? The memory of his encounter with the cat flashed, briefly, in his mind, but now, instead of terrifying him, he had to laugh at the foolishness. To think that hairy thing was Rys! He wondered if she was as hairy under her clothes, but then shuddered and shoved the mental image from his mind. I hope not.
But where was she? Starolf tentatively tried opening his eyes again, and found his vision much improved. There was no one in the room but him. There was, in fact, no one and nothing in the room besides him, the cot, and the lantern. Where were the -- Oh, shit. If that smarmy noodle-brained vixen ran off with my drugs, I'll skin her hide and tan it, too!
With a wordless roar of fury, Starolf rolled from the cot and landed on his face. Another yell of fury, and Starolf had managed to stagger to his feet -- but the room was wavering like candlelight and he fell back down to his knees again with a loud thud, rattling the mouldy floorboards. "Bugger this!" he cried, and, with no thought for his dignity (he had none), Starolf crawled towards the door, gripping the floor as if he were climbing a wall. He butted the door open with his head and collapsed heavily into the hallway. "Rys!" he bellowed. "Where in nine blazes are you, you lice-infested monkey-wench!"
Thus Starolf began his exploration of the inn.
((Mona/molty! If you read this in time, maybe Mikki can meet Starolf now (while they're in the hallway and not downstairs with Rys, Benat, and Trab).))
